Coffin-handle.



PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

No. 826,033. I

F. I. HOEFLE. COPFIN HANDLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24. 1902.

INVENTOR. 3% 6% 6Z1 A TTORNE).

WITNESSES JfdM I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS I. HOEFLE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CINCINNATI COFFIN COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

COFFlN-HANDLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'r'atented July 17, 1 906.

Application filed July 24, 1902 $erial No. 116,814.

To (ZZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS I. HOEFLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handles for Coffins, Caskets, and other Articles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the construction of g the attachments or ears for supporting the handle bar or piece and for connecting said bar to the article or thing wherewith the handle is to be used.

The several features of my invention and the various advantages resulting from their use conjointly or otherwise will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification and in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is afront elevation of a handle and attachments embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section taken from front to rear through the attachments for supporting the handle-bar. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the skeleton frame which is to be attached to the article or thing with which the handle is to be used. Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the skeleton frame which is to be connected directly to the handle-bar. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the frames, respectively, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, but shozlving them pivotally connected, as when use v It is to be understood that the frames are shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 as they appear .ticle. side bracket-arms B B and the base plates when stripped of their ornamental soft-metal mcasements.

I will now proceed to describe my inven tion in detail. In thus describing it I will specify its use in connection with a COIIlIl or casket, premising this description will sufficiently illustrate its application to other articles and its use therewith.

A indicates the handle-bar constructed in any desired manner and of any suitable material. To properly sustain this handle-bar, two sets (a pair) of attachments are desirable.

B indicates the bracket-frame adapted to be secured to the coffin, casket, or other ar- This bracket-frame B consists of the or parts B B As this frame is made of one piece of metal, usually of one blank sheet of metal duly outlined by cutting and then stamped or pressed to final shape, the front end B of the bracket is where the front bend of the metal occurs and I Where the two bracket-arms B B are united. Before the blank of the bracket-frame is thus bent to shape the pivot-holes B are punched therein. The upper portion of the base-plates B are formed into shoulders B one for each plate B It is to be understood that the plate B present on the right-hand side of Fig. 3 is similar to the one fully shown on the left hand of this figure. The plates B are each provided with an opening B In use each of these openings receives a screw or bolt, whereby the bracket is securely fastened to the coffin. The handle-hanger frame is also preferably made from a piece of sheet metal, first cut so as to have a proper outline and then having the holes which are to receive the pivot punched. The plate thus outlined is bent to shape, usually by suitable dies. When properly shaped, this hanger C is as follows: It has a main or shank portion C hollow on one sidenamely, on that side which is underneath when the hanger is elevated. The other side or back C of the shank C is, if seen in cross-section, curved. The curvature is well illustrated in Fi 4. Near one end of the shank occur the ho es C 0 one in each lip or side of the shank. Beyond these holes C C from each lip of the shank projects rearward at an angle to the longitudinal line of the shank the bearingpieces, each indicated by the character 0. The other end of the shank terminates in means for holdingthat is, graspingthe handle A. These means consist, essentially, of the embracing-piece D. Where the handle is rectangular in shape at the lower corners, the piece D, formed as shown by heavy lines in Fig. 5, has a square corner C and this variety'of the piece D is indicated by the character C Vvhere the handle is round, this variety or species of the piece D is formed as shown by heavy lines in Fi 4, and by the dotted lines at the lower end of the hanger in Fig. 5, and is indicated by the character C. In both varieties there are preferably present, extending from the rear or under side of the shank, the hook-shaped extensions C C.

In the instance of a handle having when dropped square bottom corners, as mentioned, the upper part of the handle where it is embraced by the hanger is in cross-section somewhat convexly curved, and the adjacent surface of the edgenamely, at C is correspondingly concavely curved. Such curvature operates to lock the handle so that it cannot roll out of the open side of the piece D after having been slipped longitudinally therein.

The hanger C is pivoted to the bracket B by a pivot E, passing through the holes C of the hanger and the holes B of the bracketarm, substantially as shown in Fig. 5.

The hanger-frame C is duly combined with an enveloping casing of soft metal or other suitable material, such as hard ubber or the like. The soft metal, &c., can be molded or shaped so as to bear ornamental forms. One form of ornamentation is shown on the hanger illustrated in Fig. 1. The hanger, consisting of the frame C with the casing of soft metal or other material, is indicated by the letter N. The bracket B is also combined with an ornamental casing M of soft metal or hard rubber, &c. One form of such casing is shown in Fig. 1.. The combination of the bracket B with the ornamental casing M is indicated by the letter M. In Fig. 2 the combination of the hanger N and its softmetal casing N and of the bracket M and its soft-metal casing M are illustrated.

To stiffen the central portion of the shield or escutcheon forming an ornamental part of the bracketarm, a projection M" is present, extending from the front face of the shield rearwardly to the coffin-wall. This projection M serves to prevent the shield from being crushed in at the center.

The bracket-arm B and the hanger C are of a construction which is simple, easily effected, and cheap in manufacture. Their mode of construction confers all necessary stiffness and strength upon the connection of the handle to the coffin or other article. The form of this bracket and the form of this hanger are adapted to receive ornamental casings. The tubular form of the part C of the hanger confers great strength upon the shank of the hanger, especially in resisting side thrust and torsional strain.

It has been found by experience that here tofore all of the handles broken have given way at the point Z, Fig. 1. This was due to the weakness of the hanger there. Frequently when the cofIin or casket is being passed through a narrow doorway the entire weight will rest upon one handle upon each side, on which occasions such handles are often subjected to a wrench or a wrenching strain. Then the handle is broken there.

' My formation of the shank by constructing it with a double Wall and curved (tubular) back confers extra strength upon the handle where it was heretofore weak and prevents breakage of the handle at that part of it.

What I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a handle for coffins and the like, a bracket consisting of a horizontal part and two arms B B extending at right angles therefrom said arms being in contact with each other and joined together at their outer ends and each arm having the pivot-hole B adjacent said .outer end, and a connecting hanger-frame having a back C and duplicate side pieces C each side piece being provided with a pivot-hole C said sides and back of the l1anger-frame embracing the arms B B and a pivot-pin passing through the holes B and C to connect the parts together.

2. In a handle for coflins and the like, a bracket-arm B, consisting of the symmetrical halves united at the front B, each of the duplicate arms B having the pivot-hole B each of the plates B having the wall-shoulders B and the eyes B and the hangerframe C having a back C uniting duplicate side pieces C each side piece being provided with a pivot-hole C and a projecion C beyond the pivot-hole C and at the other end provided with the extension D adapted to embrace the handle-bar and having the hooked extension C for confining the handle-bar, the conjoint arms B of the bracket located between the sides C of the hanger and pivotally connected by a pivot common to the holes C and the holes B the projections C being adapted to rest upon the shoulders B, when the handle-bar is raised, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In handles for coffins and the like, a handle-hanger frame C, having a back C uniting duplicate side pieces C each side piece being provided with a pivot-hole C and a projecting inclined arm 0 beyond the pivot-hole, and at the other end rovided with. the extension D adapted to em race the handle-bar, and a bracket-arm adapted to be received between the sides C C and be pivoted to the same at C C and having widely separated Wall shoulders against which the projections C C respectively impinge when the handle-bar is raised, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a handle for coffins and the like, a bracketarm B, consisting of the symmetrical halves united at the front B each of the duplicate arms B having the pivot-hole B each of the plates B having the shoulders B and the eyes B and the hanger-frame O having a back G uniting duplicate side pieces C each side piece being provided with a pivot-hole C and a projection 0 beyond the pivot-hole C and at the other end provided with the extension D adapted to embrace the handle bar, the conjoint arms B of the ICO bracket located between the sides C of the hanger and pivotally connected by a pivot common to the holes C and the holes B the projections C being adapted to rest upon the shoulders B when the handle-bar is raised, isrulstantially as and for the purposes speci- 1e 5. A handle having an. escutcheon-plate for attachment to a casket or coffin, and formed with a socket to receive the ends of a swinging arm, and with lugs at the sides of the socket to receive the ends of a pivot-pin, said escutcheon-plate being formed from soft metal, in which is bedded a hard-metal reinforce, consisting of two parallel arms united at the front and extending rearward, and there respectively united to the flat vertical wallpieces B 13, each of said pieces extending outwardly at right angles to the firstnamed arms, and each carrying a shoulder, at the wall, the plane of the rear side of these shoulders coinciding with the plane of the rear side of the escutcheon, these wall-pieces being provided below with perforated lugs embedded in the escutcheon-plate, the two parallel arms being covered with an extension of the soft metal of the escutcheon, in combination with a swinging arm, composed of hard metal, formed into two parallel sides united above, and terminating in separated projections beyond the pivot-openings thereof, this swinging arm provided with a curved end, for the reception of the hand-bar, this swinging arm being covered with soft metal, the hard-metal reinforce of the escutcheonplate entering within the adjacent ends of the arm and connected thereto by a pivotpin, the free ends of the projections of the swinging arm being adapted to respectively rest upon the respective shoulders of the hard-metal wall-reinforce, when the swinging arm is lifted into use, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a handle for coffins and caskets, a swinging arm, an escutcheon-plate for attachment to a casket or coffin, and formed with a socket to receive the two rear ends of the swinging arm, and with lugs at the sides of the socket to receive the ends of a pivotpin, said escutcheon-plate being formed from soft metal, in which is bedded a hard-metal reinforce, consisting of two parallel arms united at the front and extending rearward and then provided with the fiat vertical wallpieces, each extending outwardly at right angles to the first-named arms, and each carrying a shoulder, at the wall, these wallpieces having perforated lugs, embedded in the escutcheon-plate, the said two parallel arms being covered with an extension of the soft metal of the escutcheon, in combination with a swinging arm, composed of hard metal, formed into two parallel sides united above, and terminating in separated projections at the end nearest the escutcheon, the outer end of this swinging bar being provided with a curved end for the reception of the handbar, this swinging arm being covered with soft metal, the hard-metal reinforce of the escutcheon-plate located between the projections of the swinging arm, and beyond the said projections pivoted to the said arm, the free ends of the projections of the swinging arm being adapted to impinge upon the adjacent parts of the reinforce first aforementioned, when the swinging arm is lifted, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

FRANCIS I. HOEFLE.

Attest STARBUC K SMITH, K. SMITH. 

